CHAPTER 11. 



History and Distribution of Snakes. 



It is from the history of the stratified rocks of the Earth, 

 and the countless number of fossil remains of animal and vege- 

 table life which are treasured up within their substance, that we 

 know that living creatures existed upon this earth millions of 

 years ago. 



Fossil remains of snakes have been found in the later Cre- 

 taceous and early Tertiary periods in the world's history. 



The fossil remains of a snake twelve feet long, of the Python 

 family, was unearthed at Stepney [London]. Remains of extinct 

 specimens of Boa Constrictors twenty feet in length were found 

 at Bracklesham. The backbones are perfect. They belong to 

 the fossil genus PalcBophis. In later deposits during the Tertiary 

 Epoch, fossil remains of a venomous snake were discovered. 



In the lower Tertiary deposits of North America, the fossil 

 remains of great numbers of snakes have been found. 



In the Western States of America the remains of different 

 species of Boa Constrictors and other kinds of snakes have been 

 brought to light in the freshwater Eocene deposits. 



Fossil snakes have also been discovered in the Tertiary deposits 

 of India. Portions of the backbone and head of an extinct 

 species of Python {Gigantophis garstini) have been dug up. From 

 the size of the fossil remains it is estimated this species of Python 

 attained a length of fifty to sixty feet, and is the largest serpent 

 so far known. 



The Cretaceous strata of rocks, when not pushed up by volcanic 

 eruptions, earth movements, or disclosed by weathering, etc., are 

 at a distance of about 2600 feet below the Earth's surface. The 

 time it took for their formation can be roughly estimated at about 

 two and a half milUons of years. It is estimated to be over 8 

 millions of years ago since these rocks were deposited as mud and 



